Last Call for Local Britain in Bloom Entries

Image from Caversham Court Gardens

THE READING in Bloom Committee is appealing for local entries to support Reading’s bid to win a prestigious national title in the lead up to the competition deadline on Friday 29th June.

Individual residents, schools, community groups and businesses are urged to get behind Reading in Bloom and enter this year’s local competition and support the national entry. The committee would like to know about any community initiatives or projects to brighten or clean up local neighbourhoods, as well as looking for entries from the owners of the loveliest front gardens in town. They are also keen to attract funding towards the campaign to support the regional and national competitions. All local entries will support the Reading entry in Britain in Bloom, which looks for the best city in the UK – the town has been shortlisted in the annual competition for the first time, up against the likes of Norwich, Belfast and Birmingham. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced the national finalists in February and the judges will be visiting the town on 31st July. Reading is one of 76 communities battling it out to be crowned the cleanest, greenest and most beautiful place in the UK. In previous years, Reading has won numerous accolades within the regional Thames & Chiltern City category and in the RHS Parks category. Get in touch by visiting the Reading in Bloom Facebook page www.facebook.com/ReadingInBloom or by emailing Reading in Bloom’s Chair at smowen1@hotmail.co.uk For more information visit the Reading in Bloom website www.readinginbloom.co.uk

Cllr Sarah Hacker, Reading’s Lead Member for Culture and Recreation, said:

“This is fantastic news for Reading and I hope as many members of the community can come together to support this entry and help make Reading a Britain in Bloom 2018 winner! Please get in touch as soon as possible in time for the deadline on 29th June. The nomination in the national City category is a great achievement in itself and something we should be very proud of.” The RHS Britain in Bloom judges will announce the winners of each category and finalists’ final score – ranging from Gold to Bronze - at an awards ceremony in Belfast on 19th October 2018. Now in its 54th year, the nationwide competition pits rural villages, urban corners and city centres against one another across a range of criteria that includes horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to bolster biodiversity and climate change adaptation. Finalists are put forward to the national finals based on their progress locally and will be scored by a team of RHS judges this summer.

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Notes to Editors

The annual Britain in Bloom competition is the largest horticultural event in Europe and attracts nearly 2,000 entries from cities, towns and villages across Britain. www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom The main aim of the competition is to encourage and celebrate local communities that strive to improve their local environment. Reading's entry and bloom initiatives are undertaken in a partnership between Reading Borough Council and the voluntary Reading in Bloom organisation.